Taiwan on Wednesday welcomed the first delegation from the European Parliament to visit the island, calling the trip significant and its latest move toward stronger ties with Europe amid heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and has not ruled out taking by force, does not have formal diplomatic relations with any European countries apart from Vatican City. But the island is keen to deepen ties with European Union democracies.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said it was "the first official delegation dispatched by the European Parliament to Taiwan in history, which is of great significance."